Vegetarian Diet Weight Loss Theory

by Kat Desouza

Vegetarians are people who don't consume any meat or seafood. It's commonly asked whether a vegetarian diet and weight loss are related. There are many reasons why people choose a vegetarian diet including religious beliefs, ethical reason, health benefits and diets.
The three common types of vegetarianism are:

Steps to Becoming a Vegetarian!

Consider your reasons for becoming a vegetarian. Many people that I know have become vegetarians simply because of animal cruelty in slaughterhouses. For others it has been for religious beliefs or maybe you just want to live a healthier lifestyle.

Tell your parents and significant others as well as friends. When telling people about your choice they are going to question you, so make sure you do some research to back up your reasons for becoming a vegetarian. People won't only attack you in the beginning but always, I have been a vegetarian for 14 years and still get questioned about it. The more research you do the better prepared you will be. If you research is thorough you will always win the battle.

Make sure you eat enough food. I know it sounds weird but in the beginning this can be difficult. When I first became a vegetarian my food intake decreased a lot. I believe this had to do with the fact that I was only 10 years old and my Mom didn't know what to cook for me so I had whatever was made minus the meat.

Find good meat substitutes. This will help you replace the meat that you would normally consume and help you to eat more and prepare the same kind of meals you had before but just with the meat substitute. I have had plenty of friends try my "fake" meat and a lot say that its not that different from the real thing. (of course there are a few exceptions) I have listed a few of my favorite substitutes: Moriningstar, Boca, Quorn, and Tofurky

You can find "fake" meat at almost any grocery store, Wal Mart does have some but not a huge selection. Your best bet is going to be stores like Whole Foods and Central Market.

Get some vegetarian cookbooks and fins some vegetarian recipes that interest you.This is going to help you prepare meals without using the meat substitutes.

Eat vegetarian as much as possible without giving up meat entirely. Some people may be able to quit with no problem for others it may be a little bit harder. It may take a little bit of time to get used to the taste of the "fake" meat. Maybe just try going meat free for a couple of days a week and gradually work your way up from there.

These are my recommend steps, they don't have to be in any particular order but make sure you check all of these off your list. Always remember that you can never do to much research on being a vegetarian. Like I said earlier I have been a vegetarian for 14 years and I continue to do research on the topic and still find new benefits for not only my health but also benefits for the animals.

I will be writing several blogs about vegetarians so be sure to subscribe to my blog.

Adios!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amanda_A_Heilman

Vegetarian Weight Loss

Research shows that vegetarians need to lose weight less than meat-eaters. In fact, overweight and obesity levels are much lower among vegetarians and vegans, who generally have lower body mass index ratings than non-vegetarians.

Vegetarian Diets Don't Eliminate Need for Weight Loss

Even so, vegetarian diets are no guarantee of a healthy weight. Nowadays, convenience vegetarian foods can be just as fattening as non-vegetarian foods - in fact some vegetarian products and recipes may contain more fat than meat-based foods. Over-consumption of these high-calorie convenience foods or 'vegetarian' fast-food causes weight gain just like meat-based foods.

Semi-Vegetarians, Part-Vegetarians and Weight Loss

Although plant foods are generally much lower in calories than animal foods, excess calorie-intake and weight gain is not uncommon among those following a vegetarian diet - especially among semi or part-vegetarians.

How Vegetarian Eating Can Lead to Weight Gain

• Many convenience foods are high in fat and calories.
• Some vegetarian food products add extra fat to compensate for lack of meat flavor.
• Ovo-lacto vegetarians can rely too heavily on cheese and other calorie-dense dairy foods.
• Some part-vegetarians don't like vegetables. This can lead to over-consumption of convenience foods, like pizza.
• Some semi-vegetarians don't like much fruit. This can cause them to overeat high-calorie snack foods.
• Some teenage vegetarians lose control of their appetite and healthy eating habits and develop disordered eating patterns or even full-blown eating disorders. The latter can lead to forms of bingeing or compulsive eating that leads to weight gain.
• Careless vegetarian dieting can cause low levels of dietary nutrition which in turn may lead to a slowdown in metabolic rate and consequent weight gain.

Healthy Weight Loss and Control for Vegetarians

Whether you are vegan or ovo-lacto vegetarian or simply someone who avoids meat, the secret of successful weight loss is to follow a BALANCED vegetarian weight loss diet and take regular exercise.
For ideas, see Vegetarian Weight Loss Diet
Getting Support to Lose Weight
If you need extra help to reduce weight, you may find it helpful to join a dieting forum or online discussion group. One option to check out is the Anne Collins weight management program, which includes a vegetarian diet plan and an active, friendly diet forum with tons of members. To view her forum as a guest, visit: Weight Management Forum
Vegetarian Diet